Radiant and convection heated chambers

ABSTRACT

An upstanding wall of an enclosure such as a mobile home, house trailer or camper body is provided with a horizontal opening extending therethrough forming a chamber between the inner and outer surfaces of the wall. An upstanding panel of heat conductive material closes the end of the chamber opening through the inner side of the wall and a closure member is provided for movement into and out of position closing the outer end of the chamber which opens through the outer side of the wall. The chamber may have bottles of LPG stored therein and the portions of the wall defining the perimeter of the chamber are insulated, as is the closure member. In this manner, warm air from the interior of the enclosure may move by convection currents or be driven by a blower across the inner side of the panel of heat conductive material so as to heat the panel in a manner such that the air within the chamber on the outer side of the heat conductive panel may absorb heat from the panel. By heating the air within the chamber through the panel of heat conductive material the LPG bottles within the chamber will be maintained at a higher temperature than the air temperature outside of the enclosure in extremely cold weather.

United States Patent 11 1 Iller 1 51 Oct.-14, 1975 RADIANT AND CONVECTION HEATED Primary Examiner--Albert w. Davis, Jr.

CHAL/[BERS Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Clarence A. OBrien; [75] Inventor: John A. Iller, Seattle, Wash. Harvey Jacobson [73] Assignee: Adabelle E. Iller, Seattle, Wash. a [57] ABSTRACT part int r st An upstanding wall of an enclosure such as a mobile [22] Filed Oct 25 1973 home, house trailer or camper body is provided with a horizontal opening extending therethrough forming a PP 409,675 chamber between the inner and outer surfaces of the wall. An upstanding panel of heat conductive material [52] US Cl 165/4l 165/57, 165/122 closes the end of the chamber opening through the 296/23 237/86 inner side of the wall and a closure member is pro- 51] Int Cl B60h 1/00 vided for movement into and out of position closing 58] Fieid 129 41 the outer end of the chamber which opens through the 98/36 62750 3 outer side of the wall. The chamber may have bottles 420423 i A 45 of LPG stored therein and the portions of the wall de- A 12 4 1 2 5 l2 2 9 b fining the perimeter of the chamber are insulated, as is the closure member. In this manner, warm air from [56] References Cited the interior of the enclosure may move by convection currents or be driven by a blower across the inner side UNITED STATES PATENTS of the panel of heat conductive material so as to heat l,883,939 10/1932 K1lleffer et al 62/420 X thg ane] in a manner uch that the within the 1( g t f li r chamber on the outer side of the heat conductive 2024*053 12/1935 5 3; 62/420 X panel may absorb heat from the panel. By heating the 7046967 7/1936 Post Jr 62/387 X a1r within the chamber through the panel of heat con- 5 2/1937 Gflpin 62/387 ductive material the LPG bottles within the chamber 2:2OO:465 5/1940 srelsford et 62/420 will be maintained at a higher temperature than the air 2,216,873 10 1940 Browne 165/57 x temperature Outside of the enclosure in extremely 2,478,617 8/1949 Anderegg 165/57 cold weather.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 3a 94 24 32 X 34 l 49 S 42 66 i Q 50 72 lj 52 J l 54 U.S. Patent 0t.14,1975 Sheet10f2 3,911,999

US Patent Oct. 14, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,911,999

Fig.4

RADIANT AND CONVECTION HEATED CHAMBERS In extremely cold climates the temperature of LPG bottles which are exposed to exterior temperatures quite often drops below the temperature which will enable the LPG to properly vaporize. In addition, conventional automotive storage batteries, even when fully charged, are not capable of producing more than a fraction of the electrical potential which may be available at considerably higher temperatures. For these reasons an economical and efficient manner of storing automotive batteries and bottles of LPG in various types of vehicles has been long sought.

It is accordingly the main object of this invention to provide an enclosure wall construction designed to store bottles of LPG and automotive type storage batteries in a manner whereby heat within the enclosure may be used to maintain the storage chamber at a temperature higher than the ambient temperature and yet maintain the storage chamber completely sealed from the interior of the associated enclosure.

Another object of this invention is to provide an enclosure wall construction in accordance with the preceding object and which may be readily incorporated into the manufacture of new enclosures.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a construction by which existing enclosure walls may be modified in accordance with the present invention.

A final object of this inention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide an enclosure wall construction in accordance with the preceding objects and which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a mobile enclosure including a side wall structure constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the inner side of the side wall structure with portions thereof being broken away;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the lower marginal edge portion of the inside of the swingable closure member portion of the instant invention, and FIG. 7 is a perspective of the assembly.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates a mobile enclosure including an upstanding side wall referred to in general by the reference numeral 12 and including inner and outer panels 14 and 16. The inner and outer panels have horizontally aligned openings 18 and 20 formed therein and a rectangular frame assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral 22 is secured in the openings 18 and 20. The rectangular framework includes upper and lower walls 24 and 26 interconnected by upstanding opposite side walls 28 and 30 and the marginal edges of the walls 24, 26, 28 and 30 adjacent the outer panel 16 include outwardly directed flanges 24', 26', 28"and 30 which are secured over the adjacent outer surfaces of the outer panel 16 in any convenient manner. The inner marginal portions of the walls 24, 26, 28 and 30 include intumed flanges 24", 26", 28" and 30". The framework 22 is secured within the wall 12 by means of the attachment of the flanges 24, 26', 28' and 30 to the outer panel 16. A foraminous panel 32 having a plurality of openings 34 formed therethrough is secured over the flanges 24, 26, 28 and 30' by means of suitable fasteners 36.

The framework includes a slot 38 formed in the top wall 24 adjacent the inner marginal edge portion thereof and a transverse partition panel 40 constructed of heat conductive material extending and secured between the walls 24, 26, 28 and 30 just outward of the slot 38 formed in the top wall 24. The partition panel 40 defines a substantially fluid-tight partition within the framework 22 and thereby closes the inner end of the chamber 42 defined by the framework 22 from the interior of the enclosure 12.

A closure member panel or door referred to in general by the reference numeral 44 is provided for the outer end of the chamber 42 and is hingedly supported as at 46 from the exterior panel 16 of the wall 12. The door 44 includes inner and outer panels 48 and 50 of suitable metal, a panel 52 of insulative material immediately inwardly of the panel 50, an intermediate panel 54 of suitable metal and an inner insulative panel 56 disposed between the metallic panel 54 and the inner panel 48. In addition, the outer peripheral portion of the outer panel 50 is bent inwardly and over the outer peripheral portions of the panels 52, 54, 56 and 48 to form a bead extending about the door 44 and the inner surface of the outer periphery of the door includes a resilient insulative strip 58 extending fully thereabout, except for a short area 60 in the center of the lower marginal edge portion of the door 44. The area 60 is left devoid of the insulative and seal strip 58 in order to enable limited air circulation between the interior of the chamber 42 and the exterior of the enclosure 12.

The door 44 is equipped with a hinged hasp 62 by which the door 44 may be locked in the closed position by means of a padlock 64 and the opposite sides of the partition panel 40 have upstanding heat conductive channel members 66 secured thereto. Also, the walls 28 and 30 of the framework 22 include horizontally aligned support brackets 68 at their vertical midportions from which a shelf 70 is supported. An upper LPG bottle (or storage battery) 72 is mounted on the shelf 70 and a lower LPG bottle 74 is mounted on the bottom wall 26.

A vertical duct 76 is disposed within the wall 12 above the openings 18 and 20 and includes a register 78 communicated therewith opening into the interior of the enclosure through the upper marginal edge portion of the inner panel 16. A blower assembly 80 is communicated with the lower end of the duct 76 and includes an outlet nozzle 82 supported within the wall 12 and opening downwardly through the slot 38. In operation, the door 44 may be opened when necessary to provide access to the chamber 42 in which the LPG bottles 72 and 74 are stored. Very limited air circulation is afforded between the interior of the chamber 42 and the exterior of the enclosure through the area 60 in which the strip 58 is omitted. On the assumption that the interior of the enclosure 10 is at a temperature higher than the ambient temperature convection air currents may enter the upper portion of the foraminous panel 32 and pass downwardly along the inside channel members 66 and out of the lower portion of the foraminous panel. The passage of warm air over the channel member 60 and the interior surface of the partition panel 40 will transfer heat to the panel 40 and the channel member 66 on the outside of the panel 40 whereby convection air currents will be set up within the chamber 42 to warm the air therein, even though the chamber 42 is vented to the exterior of the enclosure 10 through the area 60 at the center of the lower marginal edge portion of the door 44. The foraminous panel 32 may comprise an expanded metal panel, if desired and an inclined drip channel 86 is secured to the inner surface of the lower marginal edge portion of the panel 40 for collecting moisture which may condense on the inner side of the panel 40 and flow downwardly along the inner face of the panel 40. The drip channel 86 includes a drain tube 88 at its lower end which is secured through the wall 26 of the framework 22 for discharging collected condensation onto the ground beneath the enclosure 10.

If convection air currents are not sufficient to adequately raise the temperature of the air within the chamber 42, the blower assembly 80, which may be under the control of a thermostat (not shown) disposed within the chamber 42 is actuated in order to force additional amounts of warm interior air downwardly along the inner surface of the panel 40 and the inner channel members 66.

The interior surfaces of the framework 22 and the inner and outer sides of the panel 40 as well as the channel members 60 may be painted with a dull plack paint in order to increase the transfer of heat. Also, it will be noted that in addition to the exterior panel 16 being provided with interior insulation 90 the exterior surfaces of the walls 24, 26 and 28 have insulating strips 94, 96, 98 and 100, respectively, secured thereover. Further, as hereinbefore set forth, the partition panel 40 completely seals the compartment 42 from the interior of the enclosure 10.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination, a heat insulative enclosure adapted to be inhabited in a frigid zone and to be at least somewhat heated interiorly, at least by its inhabitants, said enclosure having a first wall including means defining an opening extending therethrough and forming a chamber between the opposite inner and outer surfaces of said wall, a panel of heat conductive material closing the inner end of said chamber adjacent the inner surface of said wall, a heat insulative closure member movable into and out of position adjacent the outer surface of said wall closing the outer end of said chamber, said chamber, inwardly of said closure member and outwardly of said panel, defining a storage area in which to store an assemblage which may be adversely affected by extreme cold temperatures, said enclosure including means, operative at least when the temperature of air within said storage area is lower than the temperature of said panel and the air within said enclosure, operative to cause air from within said enclosure to flow across the inner surface of said panel for transmitting heat energy from the air within said enclosure to said panel and from the latter to the air within said storage area and thus to said assemblage.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first wall and panel are disposed in upstanding position, and upstanding heat conductive baffle means carried by and projecting outwardly from at least one side of said panel in good heat transfer relation therewith, whereby generally vertical air currents may be moved over the side of said panel remote from said closure, an inclined trough secured to the lower marginal edge portion of the side of said panel remote from said closure for collecting moisture condensed against said remote side of said panel, the lower end portion of said trough including a drain opening.

3. The combination of claim 1 including an openended frame secured through said opening, said panel being secured across the corresponding end of said frame and said closure member being operatively associated with the other end of the frame for opening and closing the latter.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the exterior surfaces of said frame between the opposite ends thereof are insulated.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said first wall includes spaced interconnected inner and outer panels between which said frame extends.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said first wall and heat conductive panel are disposed in upstanding position, said heat conductive panel being spaced inwardly from the adjacent end of said frame, and a foraminated panel member secured across said adjacent frame and spaced from said upstanding panel.

7. The combination of claim 6 including means for pumping air from within said enclosure across said upstanding heat conductive panel inwardly of said foraminated panel member from one marginal edge of said heat conductive panel toward the opposite marginal edge thereof.

8. The combination of claim 1 including an openended frame secured through said opening, said panel being secured across the corresponding end of said frame and said closure member being operatively associated with the other end of the frame for opening and I closing the latter, said first wall including spaced interconnected inner and outer panels between which said frame extends, said heat conductive panel being spaced inwardly from the adjacent end of said frame, said wall and heat conductive panel being disposed in upstanding position, said opening being formed in a lower portion of said walls, a foraminated panel member secured across said adjacent frame end and spaced from said upstanding panel, said means operative to cause air to flow across the inner surface of said heat conductive panel including duct means in said wall having an inlet opening into an upper portion of said enclosure and an outlet opening downwardly through an upper portion therefrom in good heat conductive relation therewith.

10. The combination of claim 1 wherein said closure and adajcent portions of said opening defining means include coacting portions defining an area of limited air flow communication between said chamber and ambient air outside said enclosure. 

1. In combination, a heat insulative enclosure adapted to be inhabited in a frigid zone and to be at least somewhat heated interiorly, at least by its inhaBitants, said enclosure having a first wall including means defining an opening extending therethrough and forming a chamber between the opposite inner and outer surfaces of said wall, a panel of heat conductive material closing the inner end of said chamber adjacent the inner surface of said wall, a heat insulative closure member movable into and out of position adjacent the outer surface of said wall closing the outer end of said chamber, said chamber, inwardly of said closure member and outwardly of said panel, defining a storage area in which to store an assemblage which may be adversely affected by extreme cold temperatures, said enclosure including means, operative at least when the temperature of air within said storage area is lower than the temperature of said panel and the air within said enclosure, operative to cause air from within said enclosure to flow across the inner surface of said panel for transmitting heat energy from the air within said enclosure to said panel and from the latter to the air within said storage area and thus to said assemblage.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first wall and panel are disposed in upstanding position, and upstanding heat conductive baffle means carried by and projecting outwardly from at least one side of said panel in good heat transfer relation therewith, whereby generally vertical air currents may be moved over the side of said panel remote from said closure, an inclined trough secured to the lower marginal edge portion of the side of said panel remote from said closure for collecting moisture condensed against said remote side of said panel, the lower end portion of said trough including a drain opening.
 3. The combination of claim 1 including an open-ended frame secured through said opening, said panel being secured across the corresponding end of said frame and said closure member being operatively associated with the other end of the frame for opening and closing the latter.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the exterior surfaces of said frame between the opposite ends thereof are insulated.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said first wall includes spaced interconnected inner and outer panels between which said frame extends.
 6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said first wall and heat conductive panel are disposed in upstanding position, said heat conductive panel being spaced inwardly from the adjacent end of said frame, and a foraminated panel member secured across said adjacent frame and spaced from said upstanding panel.
 7. The combination of claim 6 including means for pumping air from within said enclosure across said upstanding heat conductive panel inwardly of said foraminated panel member from one marginal edge of said heat conductive panel toward the opposite marginal edge thereof.
 8. The combination of claim 1 including an open-ended frame secured through said opening, said panel being secured across the corresponding end of said frame and said closure member being operatively associated with the other end of the frame for opening and closing the latter, said first wall including spaced interconnected inner and outer panels between which said frame extends, said heat conductive panel being spaced inwardly from the adjacent end of said frame, said wall and heat conductive panel being disposed in upstanding position, said opening being formed in a lower portion of said walls, a foraminated panel member secured across said adjacent frame end and spaced from said upstanding panel, said means operative to cause air to flow across the inner surface of said heat conductive panel including duct means in said wall having an inlet opening into an upper portion of said enclosure and an outlet opening downwardly through an upper portion of said frame between said heat conductive panel and said foraminated panel, and blower means operatively associated with said duct means for pumping air therethrough.
 9. The combination of claim 8 wherein the opposite sides of said upstanding heat conductive panel include upstanding heat conductive baffle means supported therefrom in good heat conductive relation therewith.
 10. The combination of claim 1 wherein said closure and adajcent portions of said opening defining means include coacting portions defining an area of limited air flow communication between said chamber and ambient air outside said enclosure. 